Ricky Williams' much-anticipated comeback lasted all of six carries before he suffered a season-ending injury.

Can Ricky Still Run?

Can a player who has not appeared in an NFL game in over 18 months find happiness returning to the winless Miami Dolphins? Errick “Ricky” Williams has decided that being penniless and high was not all it was cracked up to be. After a year and a half suspension, the NFL reinstated Williams on November 14 and the Dolphins activated him for this game. Ricky Williams quit football and walked out on his team in 2003 because he admitted, “All I want to do is smoke pot.” After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1998, Williams was the league-rushing leader in 2002. After gaining 3225 yards combined in the 2002-03 seasons, Williams decided to retire just before the 2004 season. He had tested positive for marijuana four times and was facing a suspension.

Williams had not played since gaining 108 yards against the New England Patriots in the Dolphins’ final game of the 2005 season. Against the Steelers this Monday, Ricky carried six times for 15 yards and a fumble. Adding injury to insult, in the battle for the ball after the fumble, Williams had his right shoulder stepped upon by Lawrence Timmons and is now out for the season.

Ever wonder what current Dolphin rusher Jesse Chatman was thinking when Williams went in? Chatman had been averaging 4.6 yards per carry on the season since replacing the injured Ronnie Brown. Brown has undergone reconstructive knee surgery and he hopes to be full speed by next year. Chatman was looking to be the feature back for the balance of the year in preparation for free agency. Then Ricky was given a primary role. Well, Ricky can probably give Chatman something to help with his emotional upset. No, not that! I was thinking of yoga and meditation exercises to cleanse his spirit.

The Treasures

Kurt Warner, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
34-48, 484 Yards Passing, Two Touchdowns, Two Interceptions

On one hand, Warner threw for his best yardage ever. On the other hand, he threw two interceptions and ended the game in overtime with a fumble in the end zone that the 49ers recovered for a touchdown. Warner now has seven touchdowns in three games and will face next week a less than stellar Cleveland Brown defense.

Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Chicago Bears
17 Carries, 45 Yards Rushing, One Touchdown

Yes, there is another Adrian Peterson. With Cedric Benson out for the balance of the year, this Peterson will be given the opportunity to perform. Okay, his numbers were not good but he found the end zone and he will keep getting carries. He cannot be any worse than Benson.

Anthony Gonzalez, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Six Receptions, 105 yards

Peyton Manning is smiling. Finally, there is someone else to throw to besides Reggie Wayne. Marvin Harrison should be back before the playoffs. The Colts can use a healthy Gonzalez even if he has been inconsistent this year before the injury. Although Gonzales has yet to score a touchdown in this, his rookie season, this week proved he can be a useful receiver and any receiver regularly on the field with Peyton Manning will be a good fantasy acquisition.

Kolby Smith, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs
30 Carries, 150 Yards Rushing, Two Touchdowns

Larry Johnson to Priest Holmes to whom? Maybe the Kansas City Chiefs have found the Denver Broncos running system where any running back can carry the ball. Or, maybe they just found the perfect team to run against. Before this game, Kolby Smith had carried for only 19 yards in this his rookie season. Smith was a fifth round pick out of Louisville and content to watch from the sidelines and learn. Smith should still get the majority of Chief rushes but watch out for matchups if you are going to grab him.

Frank Gore, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
21 Carries, 116 Yards Rushing, Two Touchdowns; 11 receptions, 98 yards

Gore was a top four running back going into the season but has been a major disappointment as has been the entire team. Gore has been held out of the end zone for seven games. Injuries have been a major impediment all season. This was Gore’s first game this year of over 100 yards. He may be the Gore of old over the final few games. If you have an opening, he is worth the risk.

David Garrard, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
23-37, 296 Yards Passing, One Touchdown

Perhaps the best kept quarterback secret. Garrard has yet to throw an interception this season. He manages a good offense that features Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew as rushers. Garrard does not make mistakes. In eight starts, Garrard has only nine touchdowns but, unlike some quarterbacks, he hands the ball off in the Red Zone. In the seven games that Garrard has started and finished, the Jaguars are six and one. Not quite Brady like but good.

Roddy White, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
Six Receptions, 104 yards, One Touchdown

With everything going on with the Falcons, it is hard to see just how good a season White is having. He has caught 52 passes for 774 yards and three scores. He has had three 100 yard plus weeks. He should score against the Rams this week.

Deion Branch, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Five Receptions, 92 yards, One Touchdown

Branch now has nine catches for 123 yards in his first two games back from injury. This was Tom Brady’s primary receiver before he left the Patriots for more money. He is communicating nicely with Matt Hasselbeck. Branch should be money over the balance of the season.

Fool’s Gold

Andre Hall, Running Back, Denver Broncos
26 Carries, 98 Yards Rushing, One Touchdown

Andre Hall put up surprisingly good numbers but he played only three quarters after spraining his ankle on his first rush of the game. I have to give Hall credit for effort, and if he can play, he would put up good numbers against Oakland. Unfortunately, Hall is unlikely to be effective on that ankle. Moreover, Selvin Young will likely to be back, and if healthy, Young should get a significant chunk of the carries.

A.J. Feeley, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
27-42, 345 Yards Passing, Three Touchdowns, Three Interceptions

Take away his first pass and his last two passes (all interceptions) and it was a great day for Feeley. The Eagles pulled out all stops against the Patriots and Feeley was the architect of a serious scare to the Pats’ perfection. He kept finding the open receiver and he took punishment when he threw. All that said, he is a backup for a reason. Feeley might have a good game here and there but he could implode or just not play if Donovan McNabb is healthy enough to play. Do not go out and grab him based on this game.

Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants
21-49, 273 Yards Passing, One Touchdown, Four Interceptions

My son calls him “She-li” and that says it all. As a long time Giant fan, this was one of the ugliest performances I have ever seen. It was bad enough that three of the interceptions Minnesota ran back for touchdown. However, at least those were thrown where someone could catch them. The number of throws that went to specific areas where no receiver ran amazed me. Consistently, Manning would expect a receiver to go one way, and the receiver was somewhere else. If it was one receiver then it could be that receiver’s fault. However, it was everyone. Manning did not read the defenses and could not defeat a team with a weak secondary.

Jabar Gaffney, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
Six Receptions, 87 yards, One Touchdown

Remember this is the No. 4 receiver on the Patriots and the Eagles put all their focus on Randy Moss and Dante Stallworth. Gaffney could have another good game next week, or he could have zero receptions. Do you feel lucky?

Greg Lewis, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Four Receptions, 86 yards, Two touchdowns

Sure, Lewis looked good against the Patriots as he sliced into the end zone twice; however, remember he had only four prior catches all season and none for touchdowns. The quarterback situation is confusing and the offense is suffering. Do not expect much.

Now, a Moment of Real Life

I was planning to watch a Monday Night Football game but instead they were showing water polo. At least that is what I thought they were showing. The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to put down a new grass playing field in time for Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins. However, they chose to do that after four Pittsburgh regional high school championship games were played on the field last Friday as well as the South Florida-University of Pittsburgh game played the following afternoon. Then it rained and the dirt, loose sod and water made for a playing surface in name only. Water splashing with every step and mud like quicksand kept everyone in slow motion. Neither team entered the “Red Zone” of the other team until the Steelers when there was only 3:49 left in the game. The Steelers scored the only points on a field goal with 0:17 on the clock.

Heinz Field director of management Jimmie Sacco said Wednesday in a prepared statement, "Our goal is to do everything in our power to provide the best possible conditions for both teams. After considering the number of high school, college and pro football games being played at Heinz Field in November, combined with the possibility of inclement weather, we believe this is the best way to go." Since the Steelers do not want to replace their grass field with a grass-like artificial turf, just as the New England Patriots did last year, perhaps they should not rent out the field to high schools.